New Year's Eve

Ty: Jessie wants sparklers, so she can run down the driveway with them. I told her not without safety goggles, and I'd bring them from work.

Me: I can still remember the pain of the burn on my foot when I stepped on one!

Ty: A sparkler?

Me: Yeah.

Ty: Back during Desert Storm?

Me: Har. Har.

Have a safe and Merry New Year, everyone!

Thursday?

I'm still around! So much to write about, pictures to post, etc.

Fighting a killer ear infection and working shifts all week at Space.

Maybe tomorrow? Right now I need to eat my Wheaties and get to work!

The Park I work at alone is able to hold approx. 70,000 people. Yesterday, 3 of the 4 Parks were filled to capacity. Welcome to the winter wonderland. =)

Double

Twice as happy . . . both girls are home!

Double trouble . .. still have to show the radical thing involving the dogs.

Double shift . . . working at the dentist office this morning, then Space tonight. Whoa!

Never Give Up!

I received this from Kelly. She knew it would make me laugh (it did) and that I'd be cheering for her (I was). Plus, I simply have to give another shout out to Mrs. R!

From Kelly:

I know this is long, but you will find it funny. I wrote this to beg for an 80. My Math teacher has the kind of humor that will appreciate this, so I hope it works.

Dearest, most esteemed Dr. K, Holder of the mightiest mathematical powers,

I am writing not only to thank you for your time, service, and provision of humorous video clips (nay, though that is indeed reason enough), nor is my purpose solely to exalt your numeric skills (second only to our Hallowed Father of course). I am writing to implore upon your kindness and wisdom. Throughout my days I have struggled in a long and strenuous battle with arithmetic. I have fought, and taken two humbling classes beneath your most worthy Algebra class and attended many tutoring classes in my tender college years (last year). My spirits began to rise as my toil resulted in greater understanding, (even a softening of my heart towards it) of my long known nemesis:The beast of math. Perhaps I could win, perhaps I would not always speak the name of math with dark venom in my voice. Knowing this, immagine my dispair, my heart break, by utter sorrow at seeing a 79 sneering at me with garish vulgarity from my final grade column. I have attempted to do my best in this class, I have taken notes, studied, and prayed for success. I know it may not be in your power to change, but if there is any chance that your hand could be swayed to act in favor of what is my best work, I would be most joyous to have my grade elevated to the status of a B.

Thank you for your time if you read this whole thing.

With the utmost sincerity and respect,

Kelly

Ooooohhhh!!!! I prayed for it to work! Within an hour, Kelly told me that he had responded. Here it is:

Dear Kelly, possessor of the golden and most elegant tongue, well, fingers,

Yes, the gate keepers of the mathematical oasis for suffering math souls, have kept me abreast of your most adventurous journey (a sort of Pilgrim's Progress, if you will). I know you have been very diligent in many ways. Take solace when I say you could be a "poster child" for how to "work my system" to achieve a satisfying grade - in a course that stirs the dark regions of one's being. I would be most pleased with playing a small role in vanquishing the evil math dragon that has caused such trouble and despair in young maiden's life. Rest assured your cries do not fall on deaf or unsympathetic ears. Actually, I was very eager to award you the grade I truly believe you deserve, even before your most entertaining email. You will just have to trust my gracious heart that it is the one you seek.

Thank you for your faithfulness. It so pleases the Lord. Your email really cracked me up. What is your major again?

Merry Christmas!
Dr. K

Random Thoughts

Heard from our Brown-Eyed Girl. She's safely with her sister. We're both counting down the days until The Day. ;-)

Christmas shopping? I think I'll skip it this year.

Once in a while I remember to play Words with Friends - and realize it's been almost a week since my last play. Sorry, friends!

Glenna is ALMOST to her Christmas break. Yes, we WILL be celebrating.

Kelly will be home this week for her break!

We did something radical, but the dogs are cool with it, so don't freak out. Photos to follow.

We still have the dogs.

Jack (the dog) was gassing out Himself this morning, so he kicked Jack out of his office. It's the gift that keeps on giving.

Glenna has a fondue party at school today. Is this the 70's? We're bringing grape tomatoes. Hopefully, no one will eat them because they don't really go with cheese or chocolate dips.

It's so weird to say "Glenna has a fondue party at school" because we home school. I guess the one-day-per-week classes can be called a school. At least, they try to make it that way; they have fundraisers, yearbooks, meetings, class parties, and possibly a prom - all things I've been fortunate enough to avoid until now. (Except for teachers. Her teachers are GREAT, and we love Mrs. R and Mrs. S.!)

Speaking of Mrs. R - she's probably one of the few people I don't mind asking about pronunciation or word clarification. We're both life-long learners and I'm so glad she gets that about me. I certainly get that about her! I can now pronounce "quinoa."

That's all for now.

All right, lets take your picture so we can show off the new haircut.

Thanks. Now, turn to the side.

Thank you. Aaaaaannnnnndddd. . . . .turn to the other side . . . .

Thank you.

Mom, what the heck? What are you doing?

Mom!

Mom, that's enough!

Paper or Plastic?

On Tuesday, I took Glenna to get her hair cut (pictures coming!). On the way home I knew we didn't have any food in the house, so I suggested we do something CRAZY - go to the Walmarts at 4:30 pm in December.

She looked at me like I was crazy. My smile stayed bright (maybe feverish) as I explained how great it would be to step into that world of Christmas chaos and try to grocery shop.

The Walmarts did not disappoint, though it wasn't nearly as crowded as the experience required. The two girls who were ringing up our groceries were apparently cousins. Their amusing conversation was a little hard to understand, but as nearly as I can figure out there's guy who asked if she was her cousin but Girl One actually has two cousins who work with her at the Walmarts and pretty soon, he and she were SKYPING.

Whatever.

The perplexing part was that Girl One was complained that she needed her break, so Girl Two came over to relieve her and Girl One just stood there talking the entire time anyway. Girl Two had been trying to get more bags and finally got some, and Girl One stood and talked and helped with bagging our groceries, interjecting her conversation with "We need more bags" on occasion.


On our receipt, we had purchased a total of 65 items.


I told Glenna to make sure we counted every bag.


For our 65 items, there was a total of 29 bags. That's 2.24 items per bag.

Not.

Kidding.

I felt like I should report it to the manager or something! When I go to my usual store and remember to bring my own reusable bags, I can fit all my groceries into four.

Really, though? The whole experience was hilarious. We had the best time just being together.

See what a new haircut can do?

Glenna and I signed to each other most of the time we were in the store - not because we thought anyone wouldn't be able to know what we were saying, but because we want to practice, practice, practice! It would thrill me to no end to have someone come up and start signing with us!

Looking

I have lost a lovely item.

The Lord alone knows where it is!

I'm praying He would allow me to find it. It would be so sweet.

Meanwhile, here's something nice to look at.

She said . . .

. . . yes!

I was waiting for Jessie to post something because I didn't want to steal any thunder, but it was announced at her church today and she told me yesterday that I could tell the world.

Hello, world. =)

Summer of 2012, his Brown-Eyed-Girl becomes OUR Brown-Eyed-Girl.

And there is great rejoicing!

Isn't This . . .

. . . .a great photo?

Yeah, I thought so, too.

=)